Gaming machine with unified image on multiple video displays

ABSTRACT

A gaming machine comprising a first video-type display, a second video-type display and a controller. The second display is positioned adjacent the first display. A controller generates a unified image of a game of chance on the first and second displays. The unified image includes a first portion on the first display and a second portion on the second display.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to gaming machines and, moreparticularly, to a gaming machine having a unified image on multipledisplays.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Gaming machines, such as slot machines, video poker machines and thelike, have been a cornerstone of the gaming industry for several years.Generally, the popularity of such machines with players is dependent onthe likelihood (or perceived likelihood) of winning money at the machineand the intrinsic entertainment value of the machine relative to otheravailable gaming options. Where the available gaming options include anumber of competing machines and the expectation of winning each machineis roughly the same (or believed to be the same), players are mostlikely to be attracted to the most entertaining and exciting of themachines. Shrewd operators consequently strive to employ the mostentertaining and exciting machines available because such machinesattract frequent play and hence increase profitability to the operator.Accordingly, in the competitive gaming machine industry, there is acontinuing need for gaming machine manufacturers to produce new types ofgames, or enhancements to existing games, which will attract frequentplay by enhancing the entertainment value and excitement associated withthe game.

To enhance the entertainment value of a gaming machine, gaming machinesoften include features such as an enhanced payoff and a “secondary” or“bonus” game which may be played in conjunction with a “basic” game. Thebonus game may comprise any type of game, either similar to orcompletely different from the basic game, which is entered upon theoccurrence of a selected event or outcome of the basic game. Generally,the features provide a greater expectation of winning than the basicgame.

To attract players, more attractive or unusual video displays and/oraudio accompany the basic and bonus games. The fanciful and visuallyappealling displays offer tremendous advantages in player appeal andexcitement relative to other known games. Additionally, such games areattractive to both players and operators. Thus, there is a continuingneed to develop new features for the displays and the basic and bonusgames to satisfy the demands of players and operators. Preferably, suchnew features will maintain, or even further enhance, the level of playerexcitement. The present invention is directed to satisfying these needs.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, there isprovided a gaming machine comprising a first video-type display, asecond video-type display and a controller. The second display ispositioned adjacent the first display. The controller generates aunified image of a game of chance on the first and second displays. Theunified image includes a first portion on the first display and a secondportion on the second display. The first and second portions of theunified image may interact with each other. The first and secondportions of the unified image may show respective first and secondactions that appear to be linked to each other. The first action may bea first object on the first display that causes a second object to movein the second action on the second display.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there isprovided a gaming machine comprising a basic game controlled by acontroller in response to a wager amount. The basic game has astart-bonus outcome that activates a bonus game which causes thecontroller to shift operation from the basic game to the bonus game. Atleast two video-type displays show a linked image associated with atleast one of the basic and bonus games. A first portion of the imagebeing shown on one of the displays and a second portion of said imagebeing shown on another of the displays. The basic game may include aplurality of symbols on each of a plurality of rotatable reels. Thestart-bonus outcome may include a predetermined combination ofstart-bonus symbols on the reels. The linked image may illustrate anaction. A first portion of the action being shown on one of saiddisplays and a second portion of the action being shown on another ofsaid displays. The action may be an object moving from being displayedon the one of the displays to being displayed on the other display.

In accordance with a further aspect of the present invention, there isprovided a method of operating a gaming machine under control of acontroller. The method comprises providing first and second video-typedisplays, placing a wager amount on a game of chance having a pluralityof outcomes and playing the game of chance having a plurality ofoutcomes. The method further includes providing a unified imageassociated with the game of chance. A first portion of the image isshown on the first display and a second portion of the image is shown onthe second display. The game of chance may include a plurality ofsymbols on each of a plurality of rotatable reels on one of thedisplays. The method may further including the step of changing theunified image based on the outcomes. The step of changing the image mayinclude moving an object in the image that was shown on the firstdisplay to the second display.

In accordance with yet another aspect of the present invention, there isprovided a method of operating a gaming machine under control of acontroller. The method comprises providing first and second video-typedisplays and placing a wager amount on a game of chance having a basicgame and a bonus game. The basic game has a start-bonus outcome. Themethod further includes playing said basic game and providing the bonusgame in response to the start-bonus outcome. The bonus game is capableof providing a plurality of bonus payouts. The method further includesproviding a unified image associated with the game of chance. A firstportion of the image being shown on the first display and a secondportion of said image being shown on the second display. The method mayfurther including the step of changing said unified image. The step ofchanging the image may include moving an object in the image that wasshown on the first display to the second display.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The foregoing and other advantages of the invention will become apparentupon reading the following detailed description and upon reference tothe drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a gaming machine embodying the presentinvention;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a control system suitable for operating thegaming machine in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a display screen capture showing with a five-reel, nine-linebasic game that is played on the gaming machine in FIG. 1;

FIGS. 4 and 5 are display screen captures showing a fishing bonus gameon the upper and lower display of the gaming machine;

FIG. 6 is a display screen capture showing a fishing bonus game on theupper display of the gaming machine;

FIG. 7 is a display screen capture showing a fishing bonus game on thelower display of the gaming machine;

FIG. 8 is a display screen capture showing a fishing bonus game on theupper display of the gaming machine;

FIG. 9 is a display screen capture showing a fishing bonus game on thelower display of the gaming machine; and

FIGS. 10 and 11 are display screen captures showing a fishing bonus gameon a unified image on a upper and lower display of the gaming machine.

While the invention is susceptible to various modifications andalternative forms, specific embodiments have been shown by way ofexample in the drawings and will be described in detail herein. However,it should be understood that the invention is not intended to be limitedto the particular forms disclosed. Rather, the invention is to cover allmodifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spiritand scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

DESCRIPTION OF SPECIFIC EMBODIMENTS

Turning now to the drawings and referring initially to FIG. 1, there isdepicted a video gaming machine 10 that may be used to implement a basicgame and a bonus game according to the present invention. The gamingmachine 10 includes a large bonnet-top cabinet 12 containing two videodisplays 14 and 16. The video displays 14 and 16 may comprise a dotmatrix, CRT, LED, LCD, electro-luminescent display or generally any typeof video displays known in the art. In the illustrated embodiment, thegaming machine 10 is an “upright” version in which the video displays 14and 16 are oriented vertically relative to the player. The videodisplays are parallel to each other with their left and right edgesaligned. The video displays are positioned adjacent each other separatedby a relatively small distance. It will be appreciated, however, thatany of several other models of gaming machines are within the scope ofthe present invention including, for example, side by side videodisplays being parallel with their top and bottom edges aligned.Additionally, more than two video displays may be used, and the videodisplays may be separated by varying distances. Furthermore, a“slant-top” version containing two video displays that are slanted atabout a thirty-degree angle toward the player may be used.

In one embodiment, the gaming machine 10 is operable to play a gameentitled REEL EM IN—CAST FOR CASH™ having a fishing theme. The REEL EMIN—CAST FOR CASH™ game features a basic game in the form of a slotmachine with five simulated spinning reels (see FIG. 3) and a bonus gamethat provides unified fishing images on the two displays. The term“unified image” refers to a single image that is divided into portionsthat are shown on separate displays. For example, if the unified imageis a person, one half of the person may be shown on a first display andthe other half of the person may be shown on a second display.Typically, the first and second displays are position adjacent to eachother to allow an observer to easily visually join the two halves of theimage. Although, the following description describes the REEL EM IN—CASTFOR CASH™ game on the gaming machine 10, it will be appreciated, thatthe gaming machine 10 may be implemented with different games and/orwith any of several alternative game themes.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a control system suitable for operating thegaming machine 10. Coin/credit detector 18 signals a CPU 20 when aplayer has inserted a number of coins or played a number of credits.Then, the CPU 20 operates to execute a game program which causes thelower video display 14 to display the basic game that includes simulatedreels with symbols displayed thereon (see FIG. 3). The player may selectthe number of paylines to play and the amount to wager via input keys22. The basic game commences in response to the player activating aswitch 24 (e.g., by pulling a lever or pushing a button), causing theCPU 20 to set the reels in motion, randomly select a game outcome andthen stop the reels to display symbols corresponding to the pre-selectedgame outcome. In one embodiment, certain of the basic game outcomescause the CPU 20 to enter a bonus mode causing the video displays 14 and16 to show a bonus game. The display screens associated with the REEL EMIN—CAST FOR CASH™ bonus game will be described in detail in relation toFIGS. 4 through 11.

A system memory 26 stores control software, operational instructions anddata associated with the gaming machine 10. In one embodiment, thememory 26 comprises a separate read-only memory (ROM) and battery-backedrandom-access memory (RAM). However, it will be appreciated that thesystem memory 26 may be implemented on any of several alternative typesof memory structures or may be implemented on a single memory structure.A payoff mechanism 28 is operable in response to instructions from theCPU 20 to award a payoff of coins or credits to the player in responseto certain winning outcomes which might occur in the basic game or bonusgame. The payoff amounts corresponding to certain combinations ofsymbols in the basic game is predetermined according to a pay tablestored in system memory 26. The payoff amounts corresponding to certainoutcomes of the bonus game are also stored in system memory 26.Furthermore, the system memory 26 stores data relating to the unifiedfishing images to be shown on the lower and upper displays 14 and 16.

As shown in FIG. 3, the REEL EM IN—CAST FOR CASH™ basic game isimplemented on the lower display 14 on five video simulated spinningreels 30, 32, 34, 36 and 38 (hereinafter “reels”) with nine paylines40-48. Each of the paylines 40-48 extends through one symbol on each ofthe five reels 30, 32, 34, 36 and 38. Generally, game play is initiatedby inserting a number of coins or playing a number of credits, causingthe CPU 20 (FIG. 2) to activate a number of paylines corresponding tothe number of coins or credits played. In one embodiment, the playerselects the number of paylines (between one and nine) to play bypressing a “Select Lines” key 56. The player then chooses the number ofcoins or credits to bet on the selected paylines by pressing the “BetPer Line” key 58.

After activation of the paylines, the reels 30, 32, 34, 36 and 38 may beset in motion by touching the “Spin Reels” key 60 or, if the playerwishes to bet the maximum amount per line, by using the “Max Bet Spin”key 62. Alternatively, other mechanisms such as, for example, a lever orpush button may be used to set the reels in motion. The CPU 20 uses arandom number generator (not shown) to select a game outcome (e.g.,“basic” game outcome) corresponding to a particular set of reel “stoppositions.” The CPU 20 then causes each of the video reels 30, 32, 34,36 and 38 to stop at the appropriate stop position.

Video symbols are displayed on the reels 30, 32, 34, 36 and 38 tographically illustrate the reel stop positions and indicate whether thestop positions of the reels represent a winning game outcome. Winningbasic game outcomes (e.g., symbol combinations resulting in payment ofcoins or credits) are identifiable to the player by a pay table. In oneembodiment, the pay table is affixed to the machine 10 and/or displayedby the lower display 14 in response to a command by the player e.g., bypressing the “Pay Table” button 54. A winning basic game outcome occurswhen the symbols appearing on the reels 30, 32, 34, 36 and 38 along anactive payline correspond to one of the winning combinations on the paytable. If the displayed symbols stop in a winning combination, the gamecredits the player an amount corresponding to the award in the pay tablefor that combination multiplied by the amount of credits bet on thewinning payline. The player may collect the amount of accumulatedcredits by pressing the “Collect” button 50.

Table 1 depicts the pay table for the REEL EM IN—CAST FOR CASH™ basicgame. The pay table lists the winning combinations and their associatedpayoff amounts. From the pay table it can be seen that the REEL EMIN—CAST FOR CASH™ basic game includes the following reel symbols thatcan lead to a payoff in the basic game: BIG FISH, MEDIUM FISH, SMALLFISH, CLAM, BOTTLE, BAIT, HAT, BOBBER, SPOON LURE, HULA LURE and FLYLURE. The winning combinations pay left to right on the reels. Forexample, the winning combination of three HAT symbols that pays 5credits must appear on reels 30, 32 and 34. However, four symbol winningcombinations pay both left to right and right to left on the reels. Forexample, the winning combination of four HAT symbols that pays 30credits may appear on reels 30, 32, 34, 36 or reels 32, 34, 36 and 38.

TABLE 1 WIN COMBINATIONS PAY Big Fish Big Fish Big Fish Big Fish BigFish 10000 Big Fish Big Fish Big Fish Big Fish 500 Big Fish Big Fish BigFish 100 Big Fish Big Fish 20 Big Fish 2 Med Fish Med Fish Med Fish MedFish Med Fish 10000 Med Fish Med Fish Med Fish Med Fish 150 Med Fish MedFish Med Fish 30 Med Fish Med Fish 10 Med Fish 2 Small Fish Small FishSmall Fish Small Fish Small Fish 500 Small Fish Small Fish Small FishSmall Fish 100 Small Fish Small Fish Small Fish 25 Small Fish Small Fish5 Small Fish 1 Clam Clam Clam Clam Clam 400 Clam Clam Clam Clam 80 ClamClam Clam 20 Bottle Bottle Bottle Bottle Bottle 300 Bottle Bottle BottleBottle 60 Bottle Bottle Bottle 15 Bait Bait Bait Bait Bait 250 Bait BaitBait Bait 50 Bait Bait Bait 10 Hat Hat Hat Hat Hat 150 Hat Hat Hat Hat30 Hat Hat Hat 5 Bobber Bobber Bobber Bobber Bobber 100 Bobber BobberBobber Bobber 20 Bobber Bobber Bobber 5 Spoon Spoon Spoon Spoon Spoon100 Spoon Spoon Spoon Spoon 10 Hula Hula Hula Hula Hula 100 Hula HulaHula Hula 10 Fly Fly Fly Fly Fly 100 Fly Fly Fly Fly 10

Included among the plurality of basic game outcomes are a plurality ofdifferent start-bonus outcomes for starting play of a bonus game. Astart-bonus outcome may be defined in any number of ways. For example, astart-bonus outcome occurs when a special start-bonus symbol or aspecial combination of symbols appears on one or more of the reels 30,32, 34, 36 and 38 in any predetermined display position. The appearanceof a start-bonus outcome causes the processor to shift operation fromthe basic game to a bonus game.

The REEL EM IN—CAST FOR CASH™ bonus game is triggered by lining up threeor more identical LURE symbols on adjacent reels on an active payline.In other words, the start-bonus outcomes are the following combinationsof start-bonus symbols appearing consecutively on an active payline: (1)SPOON LURE, SPOON LURE, SPOON LURE; (2) HULA LURE, HULA LURE, HULA LURE,and (3) FLY LURE, FLY LURE, FLY LURE. In the illustrated embodiment ofFIG. 3, three SPOON LURE symbols appear on payline 45. This symbolcombination does not generate a winning basic game outcome; however,these symbols do provide start-bonus outcomes for triggering the REEL EMIN—CAST FOR CASH™ bonus game.

In response to starting the REEL EM IN—CAST FOR CASH™ bonus game, thelower and upper displays 14 and 16 work together to present unifiedfishing images for the bonus game. The upper video display 16 shows thebonus screen image illustrated in FIG. 4 comprising a group of fishermenon a lake, and the lower video display 14 shows the bonus screen imageillustrated in FIG. 5 comprising an underwater view of the lake. Theunified fishing image is an above and below water view of fishing.Normally, the upper video display 16 shows the activities of fishermenabove the water, and the lower video display 14 shows the activities offish below the water. FIG. 1 shows how the two portions of the fishingimage on the upper and lower displays 16 and 14, namely above and belowthe waterline, interact with each other and form the unified fishingimage when viewed by the player.

The REEL EM IN—CAST FOR CASH™ bonus game commences with the bonus screenof FIG. 4 on the upper video display 16 and the bonus screen of FIG. 5on the lower video display 14. The initial upper bonus screen of FIG. 4shows five fishermen characters 64, 66, 68, 70, 72 each within their ownboat on a lake. The CPU 20 randomly selects the fisherman characters todisplay from a cast of possible characters stored in the memory 26. Theplayer starts the bonus game by selecting one of the illustratedfishermen 64, 66, 68, 70, 72. In the illustrated embodiment, the playertouches a mechanical button or fisherman icon 74, 76, 78, 80, 82corresponding to the fishermen 64, 66, 68, 70, 72, respectively, tobegin the fishing bonus. For the illustrated example, the player selectsthe button 76 corresponding to the portly fisherman character 66.

Once the player has selected the fisherman 66, the CPU 20 presents theunified fishing images on the lower and upper displays 14 and 16. Thelower and upper displays 14 and 16 work together to provide the unifiedimages of the fishing scene such that an action on the upper display 16is linked with an action on the lower display 14. As illustrated in FIG.4, the upper display 16 shows the fishermen 64, 66, 68, 70, 72 in boatswith their fishing lines extending into the water. As depicted in FIG.5, the lower display 14 shows various fish 84 swimming in and out of theunderwater scene. During the fishing presentation, bait 86, such as thedisplayed hook with a worm, or in other embodiments a lure, is lowereddown beneath the selected fisherman 66 in the upper display 16.

For the fishing action, some of the displayed fish immediately dart forthe bait 86 and other fish swim onto the display 14. Bubbles (not shown)appear around the bait 86 to hide the fish near the bait 86. The CPU 20uses a random number generator (not shown) to select a bonus gameoutcome, namely the fish that the selected fisherman 66 will reel out ofthe water. On the lower display 14, a fury of bubbles appears belowwater while the fisherman 66 reels in the fish 84. While the fisherman66 reels in the fish, the upper display 16 shows a splash that increasesin size according to the size of the fish 84 on the line. The fury ofbubbles on the lower display 14 and the splash on the upper display 16is one example of the linked action on the displays 14 and 16. Table 2shows the final splash size for the selected fish 84. When the fish 84is being reeled from the water, the fisherman characters 64, 68, 70, 72look toward the fisherman 66 reeling in the fish and comment about thepresence of the fish. Although the bubbles on the lower display 14 andsplash on the upper display 16 are not shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, anexample of the splash or ripple on the upper display 16 is shown in FIG.6 and an example of corresponding bubbles on the lower display 14 isshown in FIG. 7.

TABLE 2 Multiplier Value Final Splash size Fish Type (times total bet)Small Boot with Frog  4 Small Clam  7 Small Minnow  10 Small Perch  12Medium Catfish  15 Medium Pike  20 Medium Bottle Contest or VacationLarge Pike  25 or 30 Large Huge  35 or 40 Large Ol' Chester 150 to 500Large Bottle Contest or Vacation

The fisherman 66 then pulls the fish 84 out of the water as depicted inFIG. 6. When the fisherman 66 pulls the fish 84 out of the water, thefish still in the water on the lower display 14 look up to the upperdisplay 16 with a concerned look on their faces. The fish 84 has a bonusvalue to be awarded to the player. In one embodiment, the fish is amultiplier value that is applied to the player's total bet. Table 2lists the types of fish and their corresponding multiplier values. Thefish pay between 4 and 500 times the player's total bet. In otherembodiments, the fish may provide monetary awards, free spins, or otherappropriate awards. Once the fish 84 is pulled out of the water, themultiplier value is shown on or near the fish 84 on the upper display16, and the remaining fish underwater smile on the lower display 14.After the player is awarded the multiplier with an award of coins orcredit, the CPU 20 returns to the basic reel game.

In one embodiment of the REEL EM IN—CAST FOR CASH™ bonus game, if theselected fisherman 66 catches the Clam or Minnow, sometimes, a Pike,Trout or Huge fish will jump out of the water and eat the smaller fish.In this case, the player receives the multiplier value for the big fish.This feature will occur when the CPU randomly selects a Pike, Trout orHuge fish. Rather than show the large fish being reeled up, a Clam, orMinnow is first reeled in. Then, the big fish that was selected jumpsout of the water and eats the smaller fish. This feature occurs one outof six times the CPU 20 randomly selects a Pike, Trout or Huge fish. TheClam and Minnow have an equal chance of being eaten. The lower and upperdisplays 14 and 16 present the action of the small fish being eaten bythe big fish. The upper display 16 shows the Clam or Minnow on the lineof the selected fisherman. The lower display 14 shows a large fishmoving towards the surface of the water. The large fish moves from thelower display 14 into the upper display 16 and eats the small fish.

One embodiment of the REEL EM IN—CAST FOR CASH™ bonus game includes a“Throwback” feature. The “Throwback” feature provides the player with anoption to sacrifice their first multiplier value awarded during thebonus game in attempt to receive a larger multiplier value. The“Throwback” feature is triggered when a ruler appears in the corner ofone or more of the lure symbols that trigger the bonus game. The lowersymbol on reel 30 in FIG. 3 illustrates the ruler in the corner of theSPOON LURE.

During the “Throwback” feature of the REEL EM IN—CAST FOR CASH™ bonusgame, the bonus game operates as described above until the fisherman 66reels in the fish 84. Once the fisherman 66 has pulled the fish 84 outof the water as depicted in FIG. 6, the player is asked “Do you want tokeep your catch?” as shown in FIG. 7. To respond to this inquiry, theplayer selects either a “Throwback” button 88 or and a “Keep” button 90that appear on the bottom of the lake in the lower display 14. Thebottle and Ol' Chester fish cannot be thrown back. In the upper display16, the fish 84 looks at the fisherman 66 until a decision is made.

If the player selects the “Keep Fish” button 88, the CPU pays that awardand returns to the basic reel game. If the player decides to throw thefish back, the lower and upper displays 14 and 16 show the action of thefish 84 moving from out of the water on the upper display 16 to underthe water on the lower display. As illustrated in FIG. 7, the fish 84forms a happy smile when returned to the water. After the fish 84returns to the water, the fishing resumes as described above inconjunction with FIGS. 4 and 5. The CPU 20 randomly selects anotherfish, and the selected fisherman 66 reels in a second fish. The playermust keep the second fish, so the CPU 20 awards the player themultiplier value of the second fish.

The REEL EM IN—CAST FOR CASH™ bonus game further provides additionalbonus features having the opportunity for even larger bonus awards. Ifthe selected fisherman reels in the bottle, a message in the bottleindicates whether the player will enter a fishing contest or take afishing vacation. The CPU 20 randomly selects either the fishing contestor the vacation bonus feature for the bottle.

If the fishing contest is awarded, the CPU 20 provides unified images ofa fishing contest on the lower and upper video displays 14 and 16.During the fishing contest, the fishermen compete against each other tocatch the most and largest fish during a period of time. FIG. 8illustrates the fishing contest as shown on the upper display 16. Thefisherman 92, 94, 96, 98, 100 have separate meters 102, 104, 106, 108,110, respectively, positioned above them. A clock represented by a lightmeter comprising a horizontal line of blocks that illuminate in sequenceto represent passing time (not shown) appears on the lower display 14 toshow the time remaining in the contest.

In the contest, the originally selected fisherman represents the player.The upper display 16 indicates the player's fisherman by coloring themeter border of the selected fisherman 94 and graying out all the restof the meters. The contest starts with the first block of the lightmeter illuminating. As shown in FIG. 8, the upper display 16 shows thefisherman 92, 94, 96, 98, 100 reeling in fish. The meters 102, 104, 106,108, 110 show a running sum of the value of the fish reeled in. Table 2above shows the value of the fish. During the fishing contest, the lowerdisplay 14 shows blurry darting fish swimming from the side of the waterto the surface of the water. In addition a large amount of bubblesanimates near the surface of the water before these fish move onto theupper display 16. The fishing contest varies the time to reel in a fish;some fish take very little time to reel in while other fish are reeledin at a normal rate. No glass bottles or legendary fish are reeled induring the contest.

The fishing contest ends when all of the blocks of the light meter arelit. The player receives bonus credits for all the fish that hisselected fisherman 94 reels in during the contest. An additional bonusis awarded for coming in first, second, or third, fourth, or fifth placein the contest according to Table 3. After the player has been awardedhis credits, the CPU 20 returns to the basic reel game.

TABLE 3 Fishing Contest Bonus First Place 40 + total fish caught SecondPlace 25 + total fish caught Third Place 10 + total fish caught FourthPlace  5 + total fish caught Fifth Place  2 + total fish caught

If the player wins a fishing vacation, the CPU 20 asks the player tochoose the vacation from a menu of destinations. FIG. 9 illustrates thelower display 14 with postcards representing the vacation destinationsof Canada 112, Lake Mead 114, Alaska 116, Loch Ness 118, and Paris 120.The player touches one of the postcards on the lower display 14 toselect the desired fishing location.

When the player selects the vacation destination, the CPU 20 presentsnew unified fishing images with the respective lower and upper portionson the lower and upper displays 14 and 16. Each destination has its owncharacterized lake and fish themed according to the vacation setting.FIGS. 10 and 11 illustrated one unified image of the fishingpresentation for the Paris lake with FIG. 10 being the above waterportion and FIG. 11 being the below water portion. As illustrated inFIG. 10, the upper display 16 shows the same five fishermen characters64, 66, 68, 70, 72 from the initial lake shown in FIG. 4. The upperdisplay 16 also shows landmarks that identify the Paris location such asthe Eiffel Tower 122. FIG. 11 illustrates the underwater scene for theParis location with a couple of artifacts on the bottom, such as theMona Lisa 124.

The vacation fishing presentation proceeds similar to the originalfishing presentation described above with FIGS. 4 and 5. To begin thevacation fishing, the player touches one of the mechanical button 74,76, 78, 80, 82 with the respective fisherman characters 64, 66, 68, 70,72. For the illustrated example in FIG. 10, the selected fisherman 68reels in a fish 126 in similar fashion to the original lake. The fish126 has a costume of a beret to signify the Paris location. The fishreeled in during the vacation bonus have larger values than the originallake. The vacation lake fish have multiplier values ranging from 40 to2000 times the total bet. Table 4 lists the fish and multiplier valuesfor the vacation lakes. The CPU 20 randomly selects a fish andmultiplier value from Table 4 to award the player. After the playerreceives the award for the fish, the CPU 20 returns to the basic reelgame.

TABLE 4 Multiplier Value Fish Type (times total bet) Huge 1 40 Huge 2 50Huge 3 70 Character 1 100 Legend 200 Legend 300 Legend 400 Legend 600Legend 800 Legend 1000 Legend 2000

While the present invention has been described with reference to one ormore particular embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognizethat many changes may be made thereto without departing from the spiritand scope of the present invention. For example, the basic game need notcomprise a spinning reel slot machine game as illustrated in FIG. 1, butmay comprise virtually any type of game of chance or skill orcombination of games having outcomes and presentations with unifiedimages on the video displays 14 and 16. For example, the basic game maycomprise a video poker or video blackjack game. Additionally, more thantwo displays 14 and 16 may be used to present the unified images. Eachof these embodiments and obvious variations thereof is contemplated asfalling within the spirit and scope of the claimed invention, which isset forth in the following claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A gaming machine comprising: a first video-typedisplay; a second video-type display positioned adjacent said firstdisplay; and a controller for generating a unified image of a game ofchance on said first and second displays, said unified image including afirst portion on said first display and a second portion on said seconddisplay wherein said first and second portions of said unified imageshowing respective first and second actions that appear to be linked toeach other and wherein said first action is a first object on said firstdisplay causing a second object to move in said second action on saiddisplay.
 2. The gaming machine of claim 1 further including a thirdvideo-type display positioned adjacent said first and second displays,said controller generating a third portion of said unified image on saidthird display.
 3. The gaming machine of claim 1 wherein said seconddisplay is positioned below and parallel to said first display, saidfirst portion being an upper portion of said unified image, said secondportion being a lower portion of said unified image.
 4. The game machineof claim 1 wherein said second display is positioned aside and parallelto said first display, said first portion being a left portion of saidunified image, said second portion being a right portion of said unifiedimage.
 5. The gaming machine of claim 1 wherein said first and secondportions of said unified image interacting with each other.
 6. Thegaming machine of claim 1 wherein said game of chance includes a basicgame and a bonus game, said basic game being controlled by saidcontroller in response to a wager amount, said basic game having astart-bonus outcome, said bonus game being activated by said start-bonusoutcome which causes said controller to shift operation from said basicgame to said bonus game.
 7. The gaming machine of claim 6 herein saidcontroller generates unified image on said first and second displaysduring said operation of said bonus game.
 8. The gaming machine of claim6 wherein said basic game includes a plurality of symbols on each of aplurality of rotatable reels on one of said displays.
 9. A gamingmachine comprising: a basic game controlled by a controller in responseto a wager amount, said basic game having a start-bonus outcomes; abonus game activated by said start-bonus outcome which causes saidcontroller to shift operation from said basic game to said bonus game;and at least two video-type displays for showing a linked imageassociated with at least one of said basic and bonus games, a firstportion of said image being shown on one of said displays and a secondportion of said image being shown on another of said displays whereinsaid linked image illustrates an action, a first portion of said actionbeing shown on one of said displays and a second portion of said actionbeing shown os another of said displays and wherein said action is anobject moving from being displayed on the one of said displays to beingdisplayed on the other display.
 10. The gaming machine of claim 9wherein said basic game includes a plurality of symbols on each of aplurality of rotatable reels.
 11. The gaming machine of claim 10 whereinsaid start-bonus outcome includes a predetermined combination ofstart-bonus symbols on said reels.
 12. The gaming machine of claim 9wherein said displays are positioned parallel to each other.
 13. Thegaming machine of claim 12 wherein one of said displays is an upperdisplay and another of said displays is a lower display.
 14. The gamingmachine of claim 9 wherein said first and second portions of saidunified image interacting with each other.
 15. The gaming machine ofclaim 14 wherein said first and second portions of said unified imageshowing respective first and second actions that appear to be linked toeach other.
 16. A method of operating a gaming machine under control ofa controller comprising: providing first and second video-type displays;placing a wager amount on a game of chance having a plurality ofoutcomes; playing said game of chance having a plurality of outcomes;and providing a unified image associated with said game of chance, afirst portion of said image being shown on said first display and asecond portion of said image being shown on said second display furtherincluding the step of changing said unified image based on said outcomeswherein said step of changing said image includes moving an object insaid image that was shown on said first display to said second display.17. The method of claim 16 wherein said game of chance includes aplurality of symbols on each of a plurality of rotatable reels on one ofsaid displays.
 18. The method of claim 16 wherein said game of chanceincludes a basic game having a start-bonus outcome and a bonus gameactivated in response to said start-bonus outcome, said bonus gamecapable of providing a plurality of bonus payouts.
 19. The method ofclaim 16 wherein said unified image is associated with said bonus game.20. A method of operating a gaming machine under control of a controllercomprising: providing first and second video-type displays; placing awager amount on a game of chance having a basic game and a bonus game,said basic game having a start-bonus outcome; playing said basic game;providing said bonus game in response to said start-bonus outcome, saidbonus game capable of providing a plurality of bonus payouts; providinga unified image associated with said game of chance, a first portion ofsaid image being shown on said first display and a second portion ofsaid image being shown on said second display further including the stepof changing said unified image wherein said step of changing said imageincludes moving an object in said image that was shown on said firstdisplay to said second display.
 21. The method of claim 20 wherein saidbasic game includes a plurality of symbols on each of a plurality ofrotatable reels on one of said displays.